Last Shot at Love

CHAPTER TWELVE

MAKI LOPEZ

"So, kamusta ang occular?" mapanuksong tanong ni Alex sa akin. Taas-baba ang kilay niya habang naghihintay ng kwento mula sa akin.

"Okay naman." Tipid kong sagot. I didn't tried to look at her. Nagkunwari akong nagbabrowse ng mga files sa office table ko.

"Okay naman? Ganun lang? Walang usap or kiss man lang? Yung parang sa mga pelikula kapag nagkikita ang ex-lovers na alam naman ng madlang may feelings pa sa isa't-isa?" mukhang naluging tindera sa palengke ang itsura nito na ikinatawa ko.

"Don't you have work? Go and save puppy lives!" pagtataboy ko dito habang nangingiti pa rin sa itsura nito.

"I have a clinic with a lot of vets on duty. Huwag mo akong itaboy and don't change the subject. I have all the time in the world!"

"Wala akong i-chismis for you, Alex. Purely business lang ang nangyari kahapon. Before I forgot, may kasalanan kayo ng magaling kong pinsan! How could you set me up like that?! Super awkward! At least next time, give me a heads up!" dire-diretso kong saad dito.

"Change topic ka na naman! Kung hindi ko ginawa yun, hindi ka pa rin dadamoves sa bestie ko! Tingnan mo nga kahit gumawa na ako ng paraan wala pa ring nangyari!"

"Ewan ko sayo, Alex. Puntahan mo na lang iyong magaling kong pinsan sa office niya. Huwag ako ang ginugulo mo rito. " I said as I laugh lightly.

"I'll swing by his office later, Maki. But right now, we need to plan something for you to win back my best friend." Now, if you haven't seen someone so persistent in your life, you definitely have not yet to meet Alexandra Alonzo.

"You're supposed to be on your best friend's side, Alex. Not on the side of the one who broke her heart." I teased.

"I'm on the side of the one who broke her, who by the way, was a million times broken because of what happened.  Besides, true friends help their friends find happiness, not hinder it." She countered.

"Well, your other true friends thought other wise. Alam kong the last thing they'll want is me going near Mj." I smiled sadly. Thinking how much my old friends hated me for what happened between Mj and I.

"If only you'll tell them your side of the story, Maki. I'm sure maiintidihan ka nila and they will feel really bad treating you like that all these years." Explain ni Alex sa akin. Only Alex knew my aide of the story. I not bother to tell the others my real reason why I brooke up with Mj four years ago.

"Its already four years too late to explain."

My day passed by extremely slowler than usual. My talk with Alex drained atleast half of my energy for the week due to an impromptu trip down to my memory lane. I decided to stop by a very underated cafe, which happen to be my favorite place for a long time now.

"Hi, Maki! The usual?" Tanong sa akin ni Rica as I reach the counter. I nod my head, paid for my order and patiently waited on the side. After receiving my order, I immediately sat on my favorite spot, sa back garden ng cafe.

Aside sa Imelda's garden, this cafe became my sanctuary when I ended things up with Mj four years ago. Nature, specifially gardens, became my place to breathe when I was so broken. Many thought that I shattered Mj, but little did they knew, my break up with her was the end of me. Everyone had witness how much she suffered. Little did they know, I had my fair share of suffering in silence. I was left alone by my friends thinking that I ruined the whole friendship between all of  us. The first two years, I could smell their anger in a mile radius but as time pass by, they seem to treat me like I never existed in their worlds. I was hurt, badly hurt. I lose the love of my life and a bunch of friends whom I thought will be there no matter what. The consistent pain for four years was nothing but hell.

My deep trance was broken and snapped me back to realty by a presence I longed all these years.

"Can we talk?" Mj said too softly, no trace of anger nor pain.